King’s AFL late show as Saints beat Tigers

Held goalless for three quarters, Max King has exploded with four goals to help St Kilda fight back from 25 points down to beat Richmond by 33.

After Hugo Ralphsmith put the Tigers ahead by more than four goals midway through the third term, Richmond looked set for a strong win on Sunday.

But St Kilda’s midfield, marshalled by Brad Crouch, got the contest back on level footing before King tore it apart for a 18.9 (117) to 13.6 (84) AFL victory.

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For a second successive game King broke a contest apart, as he booted four goals and hauled in six marks to help complete the rout, after Richmond had lost co-captain Dylan Grimes to a hamstring injury in the third quarter.

Crouch (29 disposals, 11 clearances, nine tackles) was St Kilda’s standout player in the first half and was arguably their best throughout along with Jade Gresham, while Seb Ross and Jack Steele lifted in the third term.

Former Saint Matt Parker, who was delisted by St Kilda at the end of 2020 and given a second AFL opportunity by the Tigers, haunted his former club with three goals in the first half.

Shai Bolton and Noah Balta kicked three and two goals respectively while Nathan Broad plucked 12 marks in defence and intercepted at will.

The Tigers had left the Saints shellshocked when they snared two goals within the opening 30 seconds via Liam Baker and Bolton.

But the Saints quickly rallied and turned the first half into a shootout.

Jack Higgins was substituted out with concussion after a first-quarter tackle from Ralphsmith, with Ben Long entering the game.

But Parker proved the difference in a dynamic first half, with his two instinctive snaps and another goal from a courageous mark inspiring a 13-point half-time lead.

When Ralphsmith intercepted and kicked a beautiful long-range goal to extend Richmond’s lead to 25 in the third, St Kilda looked set to fold.

Instead, they booted the next 10 goals.

King’s AFL late show as Saints beat Tigers
Independent Information